It was a crowded field in Canton last Friday at the Creekview Invitational.
The Gilmer High Bobcats and Lady Cats were one of 14 track teams in attendance and most hailed from larger classifications. It took a formidable performance to get on the medal stand, and Gilmer’s day ended with 18 top-10 placements across the boys and girls events.
For the second week in a row, GHS found the most success in the high jump. Lady Cat Taylor McCormick placed second and cleared 5’. Bobcat Isaac Freeman topped out at 5’ 6” in the boys event for third place.
Gilmer’s Jocelyn Birko had a good day and nabbed fourth place in the discus throw (82’ 7 1/2”) and was fifth in both the shot put (30’ 4”) and 100-meter hurdles (19.72). Kaitlyn Grice tossed the discus 62’ 6” for fifth place as well.
Kenzie Sewell finished seventh in the high jump (4’ 6”) and 10th in the 100-meter dash (13.80). Madison Stanley ran the 3,200 meters in 13:15.09 for ninth place.
Bobcat Carson Purvis excelled in distance running events. The senior placed sixth in both the 3,200 meters (10:24.92) and 800 (2:07.42). Teammate Dominic Tarantino secured a pair of top 10 finishes as well and was sixth in the high jump (5’ 4”) and ninth in the triple jump (35’ 10 1/2”).
Luke Bryant was there for a seventh-place heave of 103’ 9” in the discus, and took eighth in the shot put (35’ 2 1/5”). Avery Moseley competed in the discus well and landed in sixth place at 104’ 4”. In the pole vault, John Keener cleared 10’ for eighth, and Matthew Grice topped out at 9’ 6” for 10th place.
Gilmer hit the road at press deadline and made its way to Dahlonega to take on Lumpkin County. The Bobcats and Lay Cats will host Pickens and Murray County Monday, March 21.